The North Texas Mean Green lost in the New Mexico Bowl to the Utah State Aggies with a final score of 52-13. North Texas came into Albuquerque with their sights on winning their first bowl game under head coach Seth Littrell.

On the third play of the game, the Aggies scored their first of seven touchdowns on a 72-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Love to Aaren Vaughns.

A first-quarter injury to starting quarterback Mason Fine set the Mean Green offense back, leading to North Texas playing a caravan of quarterbacks to try to find something to beat the Utah State defense. The Mean Green played the trio of redshirt senior Quinn Shanbour and freshmen Jason Bean and Kason Martin during the game.

“When one guy goes down, the next has to step up,” Littrell said.

Before leaving the field to see medical personnel, Fine finished the drive, which resulted in the sole Mean Green score of the first half — a 2-yard run from sophomore running back Deandre Torrey. Littrell confirmed after the game that Fine pulled his hamstring.

North Texas went into the locker room at halftime down 38-7 and without their starting quarterback.

Martin started the second half with a 75-yard touchdown to redshirt junior receiver Jaylon Guyton for the Mean Green’s last trip to the end zone of the game.

Utah’s State high-tempo offense led to North Texas giving up a season-worst 52 points. Leading up to this game, the Mean Green were the only team in the Football Bowl Subdivision that had not trailed by eight points at any time during the season.

The Aggies took advantage of North Texas’ defensive struggles by striking quickly, with four of Utah State’s touchdown drives lasting less than one minute.